Thread by @wdcscribe

It's not even 11a on Monday. This week is going to be bleeping bonkers.

https://twitter.com/axios/status/1044234364979216386

NBC's Pete Williams, gold standard in #DOJ reporting, says #Rosenstein en route to White House, won't resign and will force them to fire him. As I am told, Vacancies Act only kicks in if he resigns.

Vacancies Act means if a senior official "dies, resigns, or is otherwise unable to perform the functions and duties of the office," then president can fill it w/someone already confirmed by Senate for a period of time w/o being reconfirmed. Being fired doesn't qualify as reason.

There was significant confusion when VA secretary Shulkin left, he claimed he was fired while the White House said he resigned. politico.com/story/2018/03/…

This line from unnamed White House sources to reporters that he was expected to resign is incredibly important. They want to suggest Rosenstein was in the wrong and thus resigned, versus the self-appointed king who relishes firing people. The consequences are monumental.

Pete Williams highlights sheer chaos at White House:

1) Rosenstein went to resign OR
2) Rosenstein went to be fired OR
3) regularly scheduled principals mtg & nothing about Rosenstein on agenda

So highly unusual & admission that no one knows what's going on in administration.

Rosenstein just left the White House - he and POTUS to speak later this week. Amazing few hours of tremendous chaos and how so many officials were talking and virtually none seemed to know the actual situation.

Well now @NBCNews is talking about the handshake between John Kelly and Rosenstein on the White House driveway. It appears Rosenstein sticks his hand out first and Kelly vigorously accepts it.

So you have to wonder what dinner was like at the #Rosenstein household tonight.

Hi honey, how was your day?

Well I nearly resigned/got fired and have a meeting with the boss on Thursday.

More meatloaf?

Yes please.

Thursday?

Yep.